Improvement in smoothing-irons



A.fs.. MANN. Smoothing-Irons.

Patented August 19, 1873.

Z Y? A ,m PHorm/rwaMPn/cco.wxwssomvimacEss' ETNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN S. MANN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SMOOTHlNG-IRONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,880, dated August 19, 1873 application filed June 3, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN S. MANN, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain Improvement in Smoothing-Irons, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists, first, in a novel method of connecting the handle to a smoothing-iron by means of permanent inwardly-projecting studs or hooks formed on the lower extremities of the shanks or standards of the handle, and corresponding holes in the point and butt of the iron, (the standards being temporarily sprung apart in theact of attaching the handle, to permit of the insertion of the iron between the studs, which hook into the holes of the iron on the release of the standards from strain,) and preventing the accidental separation of a handle and iron united as above set forth by the employment of a tie stretched on a line intermediate between the handle proper and the top of the iron, from one standard to the other, to bind them together and prevent them from opening after they have been sprung over the iron; second, in arranging such a tie in an inclined position when used in conjunction with a reversible smoothing-iron of the ordinary wedgeshaped-form, to which the handle is connected, as stated, for the purpose of locating the respective points of "attachment to the standards as close to their respective pivots as practicable,- and thus make the tie as effective as possible third, in making this tie in the form of a plate, to perform the additional function of a deflector to shield the hand of the ironer from the heat radiated from the iron.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a reversible combined smoothing and fluting iron embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, showing the iron partly reversed. v

The same letters of reference are employed in both figures in the designation of identical parts.

I have shown my invention as applied to a reversible sad-iron of wedge-shaped form, because it is more especially designed for this class of irons; but some features of my improvements are equally applicable to the ordinary non-reversible sad-irons, whether of wedge-shaped or other form.

In all cases the iron A is provided centrally at each end with holes or sockets a, which are made of a contour corresponding to the inwardly-projecting studs 0 on the lower ends of the shanks or standards 0 of the handle B. The handle, standards, and studs are all cast in one piece, and the iron is united thereto by inserting one of the studs in the socket in one end of the iron, and springing the stud upon the other standard into the socket in the other end of the iron. Where the iron is non reversible the studs 0 may be made of angular shape, to hold the iron steady when connected to them; but for reversible irons the studs 0 are made cylindrical, to serve also as pivots, upon which the iron may turn. After the handle has been secured to the iron in the manner stated, the standards 0 are connected to gether by a tie, D, to prevent the accidental detachment of the iron by springing the handles apart. This feature is of special importance in a reversible iron which is held stationary by means of a set-screw passing through one of the standards and bearing against the iron, as in the example shown, because the set-screw necessarily tends to spring the standards apart.

The tie may be a simple rod; but I propose to use a plate of thin sheet metal for it, which, in addition to its function as a tie, will serve as a shield against the heat emitted by the iron.

Where the iron is reversible and of wedgeshaped form the tie is arranged in an inclined position, in the manner clearly shown. In this way the points of attachment can be located sufficiently low down.

The connection between the tie and the standards may be made either permanent, by riveting them together, or detachable, by hooking them together or using bolts and nuts.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 The ironing-block A and its handle, constructed and connected together as described, in combination with a tie, D, arranged on a line intermediate between the handle proper and the top of the iron, substantially as specified.

2. A reversible ironing-block, A, of Wedgeshaped form, and its handle, constructed and connected together as described, in combination with a tie, D, arranged in an inclined position on a line intermediate between the handle proper and the iron, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A sad-iron in which the ironing-block A and the handle are constructed and connected together as described, in combination with a tie, D, composed of a plate of sheet metal, and arranged on a line intermediate between the handle proper and the iron, substantially as specified.

;In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. S. MANN.

Witnesses B. EDw. J. EILs, WILMER BRADFORD. 

